[ad_1]
The Reds lost points for the second game in a row when Jurgen Klopp’s team couldn’t find a way to beat the stubborn Newcastle team.
And so a hard year ends with hard work.
If 2020 has undoubtedly been Liverpool, they are finishing it in a wasteful way.
The Reds could have taken full control of the title race this week, but instead have wasted four points in as many days. Newcastle, like West Brom before them, were able to frustrate the champions, who were limited to their first goalless draw of the season at St James’ Park.
It remains the leader of the Premier League, three points above Manchester United. His great rivals, however, boast of a game in hand and, like others, will imagine their chances of mounting a challenge in the New Year.
They will certainly be encouraged by what they have seen in Liverpool lately. Since dismantling Crystal Palace 7-0 on December 19, Jurgen Klopp’s team has not looked at all convincing.
Lazy against West Brom, sloppy against Newcastle. They should have both won, but neither.
In fact, he has only won twice away from home in the league all season. Fans have gotten used to seeing them take victories when they are below their best, but things have changed this season. His way of traveling is becoming worrying.
They should have won this one, to be fair. Their failure to do so was due to a combination of poor shooting and fantastic goalkeeping, with Karl Darlow making a series of notable saves to win the point against Newcastle.
Mind you, if it hadn’t been for Alisson Becker at the other end, the Magpies might have taken an unlikely win in the end.
Darlow, however, was the star, repelled Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino excellently during a mediocre first half.
After the break, Salah turned down another glorious opportunity as Fabian Schar somehow denied Sadio Mane at the goal line, before Darlow made another top save, avoiding Firmino’s late header as Liverpool increased the pressure.
Frustration then, for Klopp, although there was the welcome sight of Thiago Alcantara making his first appearance in two months, and only his third with the club.
The Spanish international certainly injected quality after replacing the tireless James Milner (a pass to Trent Alexander-Arnold in preparation for Mane’s opportunity stood out a mile), but even his probing failed to help Liverpool score a goal from the victory.
Matter of concern? Perhaps, especially with an upcoming trip to Southampton. After that, it’s an FA Cup date with Aston Villa that one feels Klopp could do without, and then it’s Manchester United at Anfield. How Liverpool would like to silence that particular noise.
Klopp will be encouraged by the fact that the players are coming back. Thiago, Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri appeared here for the first time in weeks, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was among the substitutes once again.
But concerns remain at central defender, where Nat Phillips was preferred over teenager Rhys Williams. Klopp confirmed after the game that Joel Matip faces three weeks out with a groin injury, adding great pressure to the brilliant Fabinho, whose class and versatility have pulled the Reds out of a significant hole this season.
Klopp was still, to be fair, smiling after this one. “I can work with this performance,” he said at the post-match press conference.
Only at the end of the season will we know if this was one point won or two lost. However, it felt like the ultimate tonight. Just like he did on Sunday.
Happy New Year? Maybe for Newcastle. They will celebrate this point as a victory.
Liverpool, however, will return home with regret. If they want to retain their title, they will have to improve on the road in 2021, that’s for sure.
